By Anna Shilongo
WINDHOEK
The Namibian Police yesterday confirmed the re-arrest of five of the six suspects who escaped from the Windhoek Central Prison on Monday morning.
The five inmates were re-arrested near Kongola Game Reserve on Tuesday except for one, Plan Ndebele, who is alleged to have drowned in the Chobe River.
Gavin Beukes, 26, and Deon Engelbrecht, 23, were the first to be captured at Ngoma Border post at Katima Mulilo. This was followed by the arrest of the other three – bank robbery suspects Nesias Matole, 33, Mthulisi Sibanda, 27, (both Zimbabwe nationals) and a murder suspect, Morris Mazila Sibitwani, 29.
The police launched a manhunt following a tip-off that the escapees were on their way to Katima Mulilo intending to flee the country into Zambia.
At Bangani, the escapees allegedly used a canoe to cross the river but the canoe capsized and Ndebele allegedly drowned in the river.
The five escapees were dropped off before Kongola checkpoint in the game reserve intending to cross the river. Nature conser-vation officers spotted them and alerted the police.
According to police spokesperson, Warrant Officer Kauna Shikwambi, the five were arrested on Tuesday at about 15h00 at Sisuwe area, Kongola.
“They were all arrested with the help of the public. They were seen roaming around a few metres from Kongola Lodge and were spotted by nature conservation officers who thought they looked like the escapees in the newspapers,” said Shikwambi.
“Once again, I urge the public to cooperate with the police in order to eliminate crime in the country,” she added.
Shikwambi says police investigations are still ongoing and officers are hard at work to try and recover Ndebele’s body.
Rumours were that crocodiles had already eaten Ndebele’s body, but according to the officer, there were no signs to indicate that crocodiles ate his remains.
“Our officers will keep searching until they recover the body. We are not sure if the suspect drowned because we did not see him drown. According to a statement taken from the five suspects Ndebele couldn’t swim and drowned,” said the police spokesperson.
“The Namibian Police would like to thank members of the public for their undivided support by providing information on the whereabouts of the fugitives,” said the warrant officer.
The escapees were expected to be brought to Windhoek yesterday from Katima Mulilo.
Shikwambi says police still want to know how the six escaped and who helped them with transport.
The six inmates who were apparently kept in one cell, allegedly escaped after cutting open burglar bars and a fence.
It is suspected they received outside help in securing the saw they used in the process, and probably transport and other logistics to the Caprivi Region.